Brian Manley, Austin's interim police chief, said the 55-year-old suspect was shooting at a vehicle with a family of three inside when the officer found them. The officer -- identified as Jason Jewett -- got out of his vehicle and shot the suspect twice before he was flown to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin.

"Even when you’re off duty you’re on duty," Manley said at a press conference later in the day Friday.

Jewett's service history spans decades. He has a master peace officer certification, the highest certification for an officer.

He's been with the Austin Police Department for 19 years. Before that, he worked for the Lago Vista police more than five years. And he has almost 3,000 course and training hours, including training with tactical firearms, SWAT training, trauma care training and terrorism training.

Records show he is a veteran officer who is highly trained in identifying threats and acting quickly.